R. Edinger - Night Kill

He immediately went to his office and turned on the computer. As soon as it was up, Andrew typed in vampirism. The search engine came up with more than three million hits. He was shocked to say the least. Andrew clicked on the first one.

“Sanguine (or Sang) — a vampire feeds specifically off of the blood of others, and cannot achieve satisfaction through any other feeding methods,” Andrew read aloud. He quivered at the thought that people actually drank human blood.

Andrew continued, “Psychic Vampire (psi vamp) is a vampire that feeds directly upon the vital energy of a being, and cannot achieve satisfaction through the intake of blood. Psi feeding methods can be long ranged or up close. Hybrid vampires are vampires that require both blood and vital energy to satisfy their needs.” Andrew turned on the printer and sent the information to it. He next typed in Renfield’s syndrome. Once up, Andrew clicked on the link and started reading it. “Renfield’s syndrome is traditionally known as clinical vampirism, though not currently categorized as a mental disorder used to describe an obsession to drink blood. The term was first coined by Richard Noll, and is named after Dracula’s insect-eating assistant, Renfield, in the novel by Bram Stoker,” Andrew shook his head. Things were really getting near the edge of bizarre here. For him things were black and white, good or bad, right or wrong, there were no gray areas. Of course it was possible that he would have to open up his mind when it came to this vampirism subculture. Andrew continued reading; “People who suffer from this condition are primarily male. The craving for blood arises from the idea that it conveys life-enhancing powers. According to Noll, the condition starts with a key event in childhood that causes the experience of blood injury or the ingestion of blood to be exciting. After puberty, the excitement is experienced as sexual arousal. Throughout adolescence and adulthood, blood, its presence, and its consumption can also stimulate a sense of power and control. Noll explains that Renfield’s syndrome begins with autovampirism and then progresses to the consumption of the blood of other creatures.” Finally Andrew searched for a description of ‘blood doll’ to have a better understanding. Within minutes he found a multitude of hits. Andrew selected one and read, “A blood doll is a mortal who freely lets vampires drink from them. Frequently found as members of subcultures such as the Goths, blood dolls seek a perverse thrill from the ‘kiss’, but their tendency to actively seek out vampires to give it to them means that they unwittingly walk a very thin and dangerous line with their lives.” Andrew shuddered at the thought that people were actually willing to do this. He had read all he needed to. Andrew sent the information to the printer, shut down the computer, and headed off to bed. The first order of business tomorrow would be to touch base with a courtesy call to Sheriff Delsmann. Hopefully she would be able to help him by providing answers from the investigation. Andrew flipped back the covers and climbed into bed. He recovered himself and after finding that ‘comfort spot’, drifted off to sleep. Soon Andrew was snoring away some where off in a deep sleep.

Sheriff Delsmann walked into her office with the morning paper and a cup of coffee in hand. She sat down at her desk and put the coffee cup down. Sheriff Delsmann grimaced a little when she opened the paper. The reason was, splashed across the front page were the words ‘The Vampire Murders’.

“Great,” Sheriff Delsmann lamented. “Just great!”

She folded the paper up and tossed it into the recycling bin. Sheriff Delsmann spun around to the credenza where her computer was and turned it on. While waiting, she stood up and glanced out the window down at the street in front of the building. A red AC Cobra came to a stop in one of the parking spaces. She saw a well dressed dark haired man get out with a briefcase. He quickly jogged across the street and into the building.

Andrew stopped at the service window in the lobby of the sheriffs’ department building. The deputy on duty recognized Andrew.

“Good morning Mister Knight,” she said.

“Good morning,” Andrew answered. “I have an appointment with Sheriff Delsmann.”

“Here’s your visitors pass.” She smiled and handed him the clip-on ID badge.

“Thanks,” Andrew said, as he clipped it to his lapel. She buzzed him in.

Andrew took the elevator to the fourth floor and when the doors opened, he exited into the large detectives’ room. Usually the guys in the division greeted him with smiles and handshakes. They were always glad to see him, but today it was different. There were no smiles or handshakes. All of the guys looked grumpy, and grudgingly as they were doing their work.

At the far end of the room was the office of the sheriff. Andrew had worked with the previous sheriff, Sheriff Ackerman, for several years. He didn’t know what the current sheriff was like. Andrew had done some checking on her before he came here today. Sheriff Delsmann, Talia, had been a detective with the Chicago police department for twenty years. She was a highly decorated, police officer.

Andrew knocked, and immediately opened the door. The woman seated at the desk looked to be close to his age or a bit younger. The slender African American woman with straight black hair motioned for him to come in. Andrew did just that and strode up to her confidently and they briefly shook hands.

“Please be seated Mister Knight,” Talia gestured to one of the chairs in front of her desk. “Would you like some coffee?”

“Yes, that would be nice.”

“Could you bring Mister Knight some coffee,” Talia buzzed the intercom.

“So tell me what I can do for you,” Talia settled back and unbuttoned her dark blue blazer. “Or is this just a courtesy call?”

“Direct and to the point,” Andrew smiled.

When the receptionist entered with his coffee, she smiled and said, “Good morning Mister Knight.”

“Good morning Jenny.” Andrew smiled back. She was the only one smiling.

“Please leave us alone, Jenny,” Talia seemed to chastise her.

“I’ve been hired by Nedra Collins to find her son, Wyatt,” Andrew announced.

“Well as you know I cannot share any details of our investigation,” Talia replied harshly. Andrew detected a note of disgust in her voice as well. She went on, “All I can say is that Wyatt Collins is a person of interest.”

“I can get a look at the crime scene?”

“No,” Talia shot back. “Besides I don’t see how it will help you locate the boy.”

“Is there evidence linking him to the crime?” Andrew asked. He continued, “What about professional courtesy?”

“I cannot comment on the DNA evidence. And you are here to tell me about professional courtesy?” Talia retorted. This time there was no mistaking her disdain for him. Talia opened her top desk drawer and plopped a manila folder on top of the desk pad. She put on her reading glasses and began, “Andrew Phillip Knight. Born in Bayport, attended the Bayport, school system. Graduated from Washington High School and went on to attend Mount Richmond Community College.” Talia paused to take a drink and draw a quick breath. She continued reading, “Graduated with honors and law degree. Instead of going into law practice, joined the Preston Detective agency instead as an investigator. You graduated with a degree in private investigation, an expert in all types of weapons, multilingual, and efficient at several forms of martial arts. Your success rate in solving the cases you work on are well, quite phenomenal.” Talia closed the folder and put her glasses down. The look on her face concerned Andrew greatly. He was not ready for her next barrage.